Showing posts with label Keycap Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Keycap Series. Show all posts

Saturday, December 7, 2024

Keycap Series: A Shopee Guide to Affordable and Good Quality Artisan Keycaps

December 07, 2024 0 Comments

This guide will be about sellers on Shopee selling reasonably priced and quality keycaps for Singapore buyers. The best part about Shopee is that there are vouchers which could be used to discount the final price and the best part is delivery is free (just ensure you remember to download the vouchers). 


If you are wondering what is Shopee, it’s basically a shopping platform like Amazon but with pricing closer to Temu. They have an app for Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia, mostly for the South East Asian countries. Besides the (probably) more affordable (cheaper) pricing, shipping is either free or less than SGD$2 (for majority of the sellers). The only downside is that you need a local number and address for each of the Shopee country app. 

 If you have not signed up for Shopee and want to get S$5 off your first order, sign up 🠊here🠈😊 Alternatively, if you already have an account but have not bought anything yet, you can still get S$5 off your first order with this code 7L6EM9H
Do note that if you are viewing it on mobile it will check if you have the app first, if you do it opens in the app, just click ok and you would get to the listing page. Happy Shopping!


Styles of Keycaps

  • Keycap sets: Perfect if you want to change out your old keycaps or simply want to give your mechanical keyboard a new look without having to buy a new one. Any design you can think of as long as it is not the "normal" looking keycaps and comes in enough pieces to fit your keyboard. 
  • Accent Pieces: Usually used on a lesser used key like "Escape" or simply a center piece(s) for your keyboard.
    • Custom: Anything you can imagine is probably able to be turned into a keycap based on your imagination and vision, along with the skills of the artist.
    • Resin/Blanks/Novelty - Based on the artists interpretation and inspiration they create their keycaps and you buy them if you like them from their store or google forms (via raffle sales).


These sellers from Shopee below are ones which I have bought from before and find their designs matching my aesthetics. Their pricing is also wallet friendly ranging from S$5-$30+ per keycap. Hence sharing them with you because sharing is caring. So read on with caution (for your wallet). 😛


If you do find any other artisan keycap sellers with affordable prices on Shopee, let me know in the comments below!

Seller: wowking|Life Technology Digital

Looking for adorable and good quality keycap sets for a reasonable price?  Spy x Family, Sanrio Theme or even the cute bear / cat ears keycap sets etc.. The list goes on... 

Spy x Family Design the purple number keys were a mix and match with the Kuromi set

I found this seller on Shopee and tried their keycaps. I got the Spy x Family, Pokemon and Kuromi designs and the quality is not too bad for the price.  The delivery experience was not too bad, taking about 8 days to reach me. The keycap sets survived the delivery process and came in bags.

Seller: Rabbit Keycap Shop

Cute, affordable and the best part is that it is customizable: you can choose the color of the keycaps! 

The seller is also pretty responsive to the chat and there are many options to choose from. I've bought from this seller a few times and delivery times are within 6-9 days, which can be considered pretty fast. It is also well packaged and the keycaps came in good condition each and every time. 

Seller: happykeycap89.sg

Looking for something more unique and familiar? I stumbled across this seller on Shopee because of the adorable Winnie the Pooh designs! The heart also got my attention.

Here you can also choose your own keycap color and the type of keycap used is different too, it's XDA which give it a different feeling and profile.

Delivery time is slightly longer than the other sellers, taking about 8-12 days but each key is bubble wrapped and in a cute bag too.  Their designs are unique and adorable. Workmanship is also good.


Seller: cherisht27oe.sg
I was just casually browsing Shopee and literally stumbled unpin the sparkly and beautiful keycaps!  

Good quality reins keycaps for a reasonable price. The packaging is also good, not only securing the keycaps but protecting them. The seller also has an Instagram account which you can follow! 

Friday, November 29, 2024

Keycap Series: Featuring Artists of the Month

November 29, 2024 0 Comments

Enjoying art and fun shouldn't come with a hefty price tag; it can be both high-quality and affordable.


Welcome to this monthly new series where I will be spotlighting talented keycap artists whose work I have come across and purchased from them as I love their designs. With reasonable pricing and shipping options that have proven worthwhile to me, here I am sharing them with you. Whether you're in search of intricacy, uniqueness, or affordability in artisan keycaps, I hope you find inspiration and the opportunity to support these creators.


Getting into the hobby and into the rabbit hole of artisan keycaps can be a bit overwhelming for the pocket as one artisan keycap can cost as much as a whole set, with some costing more than S$80 (not including shipping fees yet). And let's not get started on shipping... If you are in Singapore or South East Asia, sometimes shipping from overseas sellers are more than S$20-40+!😵


[Beginner's Guide to Artisan Keycaps: Everything You Need to Know]


Hopefully this list helps you as it did me (especially if you are from South East Asia) and support the lovely artists who are doing a wonderful job, and making it a little bit more easier for you and your wallet in personalizing your mechanical keyboard!


*Do note that these are based on my own experiences and thoughts, so remember to always check the reviews before committing to anything.

Think an artist (who is not on this list and fits the bill) should be added, do let me know in the comments below on where are they and why they should be added! 😆

Artists Featured:

  • 2024
    • April: 🍎 wildapplestudio
      • Material: Polymer clay, protected with UV resin
      • Style: 🧚 Whimsical / Fantasy / Sweet 🍬
    • May: 🐶 shopqwerkycaps
      • Material: Polymer clay, PBT keycap, Matte glaze or UV resin glaze
      • Style:  🍬 Fantasy / Gaming / Pop Culture / Nature Inspired / Anime 📺
    • June: 🍵 teas_factory
      • Material: Resin / Polymer Clay
      • Style:  📺 Pop Culture / Nature Inspired / Gaming / Anime
    • July: 🍑 peache_atelier
      • Material: Resin / Polymer Clay
      • Style:  📺 Anime / Animals / Food 🍞
    • August: 🧸 AnyKey 
      • Material: Resin (Hand sculpted) 
      • Style: 🧸 Adorable Dori Bear Designs
    • September: 
      • 🍁kōyōkeys
        • Material: Resin
        • Style: 🍁 Nature-Inspired
      • 🐇 pyuyucaps
        • Material: Polymer clay + PBT
        • Style:  🐇 Animals / Pokemon / Cartoon & Game Characters
    • October: 🐯 O_OOHKeycap
      • Material: Resin (Hand sculpted)
      • Style:  Animals / Fantasy 🐉⛅
    • November: 🐥 Duckycaps (on hiatus)
      • Material: Polymer clay, soft pastel + acrylic paint
      • Style:  📺 Anime / Animals / Food 🍞
    • December: ???

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Keycap Series: Dalgona Dori by AnyKey aka any____key

November 27, 2024 0 Comments


AnyKey aka any____key makes their adorable iterations of their Bear character called Dori available through Raffle Sales (with Google Forms) which are announced on their Instagram and discord server. I first came across their adorable Dori creations on Instagram and was immediately smitten with their beary cute designs! 


[Keycap Series: August Artist Featuring AnyKey aka any____key]

[Keycap Series: All Doris I have gotten from Anykey]


The invoice for Dalgona Dori was USD$50, including shipping. I paid S$70.60 via PayPal (no thanks to currency conversation😂). 


In my last payment for Cotton Doll Dori (yes I believe I am now a beary fan of Dori 😂), Anykey has adopted a new payment method: instead of issuing an invoice directly, they now provide a link to an online store (Shopify) where customers can complete their purchase through the checkout process, still using PayPal. Maybe a store is in the works? 😍💸💸💸


Dalgona Dori has a simple caffeine sweetness vibe and I am addicted.  😝

 

It has such a matching hue to my Rainy75 that I put Dalgona Dori there. 




ASMR Video


[Exploring the Rainy75 Mechanical Keyboard: A Game-Changer in Affordable Luxury]


As expected, the keycap arrived well-protected in its compact tin box, accompanied by a certificate that adds a thoughtful touch. The elegant packaging is just as impressive as the keycap itself, making the unboxing experience all the more enjoyable.



Unboxing Video



Anykey announces the latest sales and updates to shipping, as well as posts about past creations on their Instagram and their Discord, so do check them out!


One thing to note is that shipping of the adorable Dori creations take about a month or so to be made and then shipped out.

Artist Info

  • Style: 🧸 Adorable Dori Bear Designs
  • Pricing (per keycap)US$35 (about S$50+)
  • Shipping Internationally: Depends on your country and ranges from USD$15-$23 (S$20-S$30+)
  • Wait Time: It took about 6 weeks to get an update about shipping. If you join the discord, a post will be made, but if you did not do not worry as there will be an email to inform you that it has been shipped out along with the tracking number. From there, it took another 5 business day to receive my adorable keycap from South Korea. So all in all it was almost a 2 month wait.
  • Material: Resin (Handsculpted)
  • Location: South Korea
  • Payment Method: Paypal
  • Social Media: 


Have you gotten any keycaps from any____key? If the answer is yes, let me know in the comments below what you loved and what did you get! 



Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Keycap Series: November Artist Featuring Duckycaps (on hiatus)

November 26, 2024 0 Comments

For the month of November, the artist of the month is Duckycaps, who is located in Malaysia! She has been around since 2021! Inspired by animals, nature and anime, her designs are adorably elegant. 😍 Lately her designs have also a touch of food too (think matcha, bread and yummy things). Her creations are not only limited to artisan keycaps, but charms, pins and keychains!


Shipping (to South East Asia) is US$15 (S$20~) for normal registered mail, which is somewhat reasonable. If you want faster delivery via DHL, it would be US$26 (S$35).


International shipping via DHL is as below, otherwise it would be US$18 (S$25~):

  1. North America (US & Canada): US$31 (S$42~)
  2. Australia & New Zealand: US$32 (S$44~)
  3. Europe: US$32 (S$42~)
  4. South East Asia: US$26 (S$35~)


Her keycap creations range from an average of US$28 (S$38~) to US$40+(S$55~) . The price range is reasonable along with the unique and good quality designs. 😆 


[Keycap Series: Featuring Artists of the Month

[Beginner's Guide to Artisan Keycaps: Everything You Need to Know]


I first came across Duckycaps on Instagram, and one day she was having a raffle sale on her matcha series! 😍


It was a touch decision to choose between Tobi the rabbit, Toshi the dog or Tokki the kitty, but choose I did. I saw the adorable Matcha Toshiba and just had to get him. 


Duckycaps recently opened her online store for international buyers, but this I got Toshi via Google forms. The form was easy to complete, the process was straight forward as well. Payment was either via Stripe, Wise or PayPal. Needless to say I selected PayPal as the payment option. I ended up paying S$77.33 (US$55). If you are located in Malaysia, the ordering would be done via Google Forms. You can find the details on her Instagram page.


From the time the order was put in to the time little Toshi was received, it took about 1.5 months to arrive. Duckycaps was really responsive via Instagram, it was such a pleasure chatting with her too. Do remember to check out her page and give her the support she deserves!


Packaging was sufficient: little Toshi was protected within a box and even came with a packet of matcha tea! There were also cute matcha themed stickers.

 

Unboxing Video 


The overall experience was fantastic. Isn’t little Toshi adorable and so detailed? I love the side floral details. 😀

 

One thing to note about Duckycaps  is that she is taking some time off so she is not as active, but she is still around, so do occasionally stalk out her page to see if she has anything new.

Artist Info

  • Style:  📺 Anime / Animals / Food 🍞
  • Pricing(per keycap)an average of S$38 to S$55+ (S$38 US$28  to US$40+
    • Pricing for commission pieces might vary so always reach out and clarify. 
  • Shipping to Singapore (and the rest of South East Asia): S$20~ (US$15)
  • Shipping Internationally:
    • Normal Mail: S$25~  (US$18)
    • DHL:
      • North America (US & Canada): S$42~ (US$31)
      • Australia & New Zealand: S$44~ (US$32)
      • Europe: S$42~ (US$32)
      • South East Asia: S$35~(US$26)
  • Wait Time: My order took about 1.5 months to reach me. Since it was made to order, the time frame is pretty reasonable.  Duckycaps is also very responsive so do message her if you have any concerns.
  • Material: Polymer clay, soft pastel + acrylic paint
  • Social Media:  

💗 Loves

💗 Unique designs and aesthetics.
💗 Light weight and easy to install caps. 
💗 The evenness and smoothness of the end product. 
💗 The attention to detail is impeccable, love the floral paint designs on the sides of little Toshi!
💗 Good quality and amicable, responsive artist (to address and concerns or questions). 
💗 Reasonable pricing and aesthetically pleasing designs.



Remember to compare prices and shipping costs across different artisans and platforms to find the best fit for your budget!


Have you gotten any keycaps from Duckycaps? If the answer is yes, let me know in the comments below what you loved and what did you get! 


[Keycap Series: Featuring Artists of the Month]

[Beginner's Guide to Artisan Keycaps: Everything You Need to Know]




Monday, October 21, 2024

Keycap Series: October Artist Featuring O_OOHKeycap

October 21, 2024 0 Comments



O_OOHKey, who is located in South Korea, and specializes in resin artisan keycaps and loves cats! If the name sounds familiar, then it is because I won a giveaway from them before and loved their Ninku character so much that when I saw it available in Neon Pink... I had to get it. 😂


Although I wish the currency conversion was kinder to me, the invoice for  Neon Pink Ninku was USD$65, including shipping. I paid S$91.85 via PayPal (no thanks to currency conversation😭). To date this would be the most expensive keycap I've gotten. 😅 


[Exploring Artisan Keycaps: A Review of O_OOHKey]


There's actually an interesting backstory behind the artist's online persona: in Korean the word 음애 means the cry of a baby, and when re-interpreted it was born as 'O__OOH ' in English. 


The package come with a card and cute stickers. Neon Pink Ninku was well encased in a protector case and arrived in perfect condition.



Designs

O_OOHKey's current works (in 2024) revolve on different variations of the below:


  1.  O_OOH CAT: Kitten looking like suspenders but wearing a diaper. 😸
  2.  Ho-Raeng: In Korea, there is a culture called '12 gods'. To celebrate the Year of the Black Tiger, we made a tiger character by hand sculpting.💖
  3. SneakInKitty: Introducing SneakInKitty, our adorable new character! Watch as this lovable kitten playfully sneaks inside a stylish sneaker, bringing a burst of charm to your day. Shower lots of love on this little feline companion – a delightful addition to your world of whimsy and style! 
  4. Ryong-E: Dive into the mythical charm of the Year of the Blue Dragon with our exquisite Blue Dragon, Ryong-E! This blue dragon keycap created in celebration of 2024 boasts a captivating azure hue symbolizing strength and prosperity. Embrace the upcoming year with Ryong-E, whose horns will ward off all your hardships! Meet Ryong-E at Raffle!
  5. NinKu: A cute kid who dreams of becoming a ninja

There are also other occasional designs such as the Cloud Keycaps and Stingray which are priced at US$20-25. So definitely something to look forward to!

How to Buy

The mode of which the keycaps are sold is via Raffle Sales with Google Forms: where you sign up to win a chance to buy the keycaps. The form is usually open for a week and sales are conducted on a first come first serve basis. If payment is not made within 24 hours, then it gets cancelled and you would not be able to particulate in the next raffle. 


O_OOHKey announces the latest sales and posts about past creations on their Instagram. They also occasionally have giveaways, so do check them out! 😍

The Cloud & Stingray Series which are always available 

Artist Info

  • Style: 🐯 Animals / Fantasy 🐉⛅
  • Pricing (per keycap)an average of US$20 to US$60 (S$26-S$80+)
  • Shipping Internationally: Depends on your country and ranges from USD$15-$30 (S$20-S$50)
  • Wait Time: Not including the time it took to be processed / made, it took within 5 business days (total was 8 days if you count the weekends) to receive my adorable keycap from South Korea.
  • Material: Resin (Hand sculpted)
  • Location: South Korea
  • Payment Method: Paypal
  • Social Media: 

Have you gotten any keycaps from any____key? If the answer is yes, let me know in the comments below what you loved and what did you get! 


[Keycap Series: Featuring Artists of the Month

[Exploring Artisan Keycaps: A Review of O_OOHKey]

[Beginner's Guide to Artisan Keycaps: Everything You Need to Know]

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Keycap Series: Egg Dori by AnyKey aka any____key

October 02, 2024 0 Comments

AnyKey aka any____key makes their adorable iterations of their Bear character called Dori available through Raffle Sales (with Google Forms) which are announced on their Instagram and discord server. I first came across their adorable Dori creations on Instagram and was immediately smitten with the beary cute designs! 


[Keycap Series: August Artist Featuring AnyKey aka any____key]

[Keycap Series: All Doris I have gotten from Anykey]


Anykey announces the latest sales and updates to shipping, as well as posts about past creations on their Instagram and their Discord, so do check them out!


One thing to note is that shipping of the adorable Dori creations take about a month or so to be made and then shipped out.


Previously I had gotten their Lime Boom! Dori and Hibernation Dori, then I saw the delicious Egg Dori and just had to get him. The invoice for Egg Dori was USD$50, including shipping. I paid S$70.57 via PayPal (no thanks to currency conversation😂). You can tell I am becoming a fan of Dori the bear... This already is my third Dori (and I am not going to stop)!



Unboxing Video

Artist Info

  • Style: 🧸 Adorable Dori Bear Designs
  • Pricing (per keycap)US$35 (about S$50+)
  • Shipping Internationally: Depends on your country and ranges from USD$15-$23 (S$20-S$30+)
  • Wait Time: It took about 6 weeks to get an update about shipping. If you join the discord, a post will be made, but if you did not do not worry as there will be an email to inform you that it has been shipped out along with the tracking number. From there, it took another 5 business day to receive my adorable keycap from South Korea. So all in all it was almost a 2 month wait.
  • Material: Resin (Hand sculpted)
  • Location: South Korea
  • Payment Method: Paypal
  • Social Media: 


Have you gotten any keycaps from any____key? If the answer is yes, let me know in the comments below what you loved and what did you get! 


[Keycap Series: Featuring Artists of the Month

[Beginner's Guide to Artisan Keycaps: Everything You Need to Know]



Sunday, September 29, 2024

Keycap Series: September Artist Featuring pyuyucaps

September 29, 2024 0 Comments


September brings the cozy vibes of autumn and the magic of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. So to celebrate, instead of the usual 1 artist, 2 artists who capture the essence of the season will be featured this month. 


Last week we had Jen, all the way from Australia, the wonderful lady behind kōyōkeys. This week we have pyuyucaps who is right across the causeway from Malaysia. Her adorable creations range from about US$30-55+ (about S$40-70+) and shipping to Singapore is US$15 (about S$20)


What I appreciate about pyuyucaps is that she has an online shop as well as raffle sales and commission open on her Instagram page, so there are options. Her creations on her Big Cartel shop are simply adorable and have a nice clean finish to them. 

 

When I saw 'YU' bunny (玉兔), I simply fell in love with the sweet pink and adorable design! 


So into the shopping cart 'YU' bunny (玉兔) went along with her friends, and they soon made their way to me. 😆 It was a pleasant surprise that instead of delivery via the post office it was via a courier and arrived in a faster time (less than a week).


[Keycap Series: Featuring Artists of the Month

[Beginner's Guide to Artisan Keycaps: Everything You Need to Know]


The shopping experience was straight forward and simple. It would be nice if the currency could be auto-converted to reflect the currency I am using but that was not a deal breaker. I appreciated the online store experience:

  1. Paypal was a payment option.
  2. No need to create an account just to make purchase. As long as you have your Order number, you are able to keep track of your order easily.
  3. Once the order was confirmed and on the way, the tracking ID is provided.
  4. Updates from the courier when the parcel is out for delivery.


Now on to the fun part… Unboxing the happy mail of  'YU' bunny (玉兔)  and her friends! 
I adore the packaging and the nicely tied bow on the box. Also... the cute stickers and seal mascot are simply adorable, don’t you think? 😍

Unboxing

 


Artist Info

  • Style:  🐇 Animals / Pokemon / Cartoon & Game Characters
  • Pricing (per keycap)an average of US$30-55+ (about S$40-70+)
  • Shipping to Singapore: US$15 (about S$20)
  • Shipping Internationally: shipping costs will be calculated at checkout. 
  • Wait Time: Once my order was placed, it took less than a week for the cute keycap to reach me (from Malaysia to Singapore via courier).
  • Material: Polymer clay + PBT
  • Location: Malaysia
  • Social Media: 


💗 Loves

💗 Simple yet adorably intricate designs.
💗 The evenness and smoothness (clean lines) of the end product.
💗 Good quality.
💗 Excellent packaging with a hint of cuteness. 
💗Delivery via courier instead of the post office (might vary in your location).


Remember to compare prices and shipping costs across different artisans and platforms to find the best fit for your budget!
Have you gotten any keycaps from pyuyucaps? If the answer is yes, let me know in the comments below what you loved and what did you get! 


Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Keycap Series: September Artist Featuring kōyōkeys

September 24, 2024 0 Comments

September brings the cozy vibes of autumn and the magic of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. So to celebrate, instead of the usual 1 artist, 2 artists who capture the essence of the season will be featured this month.  The first featured artist is kōyōkeys.


Hailing from Australia, Jen is the wonderful lady behind kōyōkeys. The name kōyō means autumn leaves changing color. The keycaps are primarily made from epoxy resin but some specialty designs may include other materials such as polymer clay and glitter. The overall result are designs which are minimalistic yet elegant. 


kōyōkeys  keycaps range from about S$64-120+ (US$45-88+), and shipping to Singapore is S$20


Most designs, or colorways as they are called, have about 6-12 units available while the more popular ones might have a little more in quantity (i.e. about 20 units). Each colorway is unique and it might be hard to replicate the same color exactly, so you can be assured that you would be getting a one of a kind little piece of art keycap.


Jen has an interesting take on Raffles Sales: instead of using Google Forms, she offers a range of designs (and quantity) on her online store. The new designs are then announced on her Instagram page. In a way they are raffled just on an online store instead of using Google Forms. Doing so allows interested buyers to "raffle" their luck and see if they are able to check out with their desired color way. 

 

This definitely saves time on administration and the manual effort having to individually contacting each buyer, send them an invoice and see if they have paid or not before packing etc... And for buyers, the result is almost instant in seeing if they are able to get the colorway which they wanted. I like this approach as the wait is practically more than halved and you can received the keycaps much earlier than your regular Raffle Sale method via Google Forms. 

One day, I happened to be browsing Instagram and came across Jen's post announcing that there was going to be sales (along with some new releases) on her online store. Sales day come, I went to check out the online store and checked out a sunflower rakuyō keycap. 😍


[Keycap Series: Featuring Artists of the Month

[Beginner's Guide to Artisan Keycaps: Everything You Need to Know]


It was the typical Shopify platform experience but I appreciated the online store experience:

  1. Auto-currency conversion on the site and displayed it already in S$.
  2. Paypal was a payment option.
  3. No need to create an account just to make purchase. As long as you have your Order number, you are able to keep track of your order easily.
  4. Once the order was confirmed and on the way, an estimated date period was included in the update email.
  5. Taxes and shipping calculated at checkout.
  6. Email updates from Australian Post on the status of the delivery so you can travel virtual with your package.

While navigation on the online shop was relatively simple for purchasing, the links for contact, care instructions, FAQ, and shipping & delivery, were 'hidden' at the bottom. Whether you are on a mobile device browser or your computer browser, you would have to scroll all the way down to see the links which made it a tad inaccessible and not so user friendly for first timers on the site. It would have been good to replicate the links to the top navigation bar to make it easier to explore and navigate before making a purchase.

Now on to the fun part. The shipment from kōyōkeys  arrived without any "hiccups". Packing was a little more premium with a velvet little pouch to house the keycap, customized box and certificate. 


Unboxing




Artist Info

  • Style: 🍁 Nature-Inspired 
  • Pricing (per keycap)an average of  S$64-120 (US$45-88)
  • Shipping to Singapore: S$20
  • Shipping Internationally: shipping costs will be calculated at checkout. 
  • Wait Time: Orders within 3-5 days to be processed after being placed, My order took 3 working days to get processed and shipped out. It took another 8 working days (a total of 16 days) to reach me. 
  • Material: Resin
  • Location: Australia
  • Social Media: 


💗 Loves

💗 Simple yet elegant design and colors.
💗 The evenness and smoothness (clean lines) of the end product.
💗 Good quality.
💗 Premium keycap pouch with the packaging.
💗 Being updated at every stage of the delivery from when the keycaps have been sent out, left the country and arriving to you - all of the updates are via email. 


Remember to compare prices and shipping costs across different artisans and platforms to find the best fit for your budget!
Have you gotten any keycaps from kōyōkeys? If the answer is yes, let me know in the comments below what you loved and what did you get!